We bought our home three years ago, a 1979 original! Ugly old shag carpet was everywhere in those lovely 70s shades of gold and green. Immediately after settlement, we went to the house and started ripping it out. The backer was dried up and crumbly and made a mess. We painted almost every room, including my son’s room that had been painted dark blue (even the ceiling and closet). We laid 900 square feet of vinyl plank flooring on our hands and knees, and put new carpet in the bedrooms.
We still have several projects left to do and I decided to “jot down” a few I’d like to complete this year. Those few things turned into quite a list! New exterior doors, new interior doors, new bathtub and vanity, new kitchen countertops and backsplash (they’re 1970s yellow), finish window trim and paint, grind tree stumps (we had dead trees taken down), etc. Oh geez, where to start!
If you’re like me, looking at all your home improvement projects feels daunting and overwhelming. I figured it would be helpful to break them down into two categories: what we can DIY, and what we have to hire a professional to do. Fortunately, we are “handy” folks and can do some of the simple projects like finish trim work and paint. The next step is getting quotes, or at least ballpark figures, of the “need to hire” projects.
A couple of tips to help with your home renovation resolutions:
1. Don’t be shy if you have a skilled family member or friend. Ask for help! Supply the pizza and be the errand boy.
2. Save up cash and pay as you go. Unless it’s a large project that needs to be done immediately, put a collection box on the kitchen table and start saving!
3. Be patient. Decide what is most important and work on that first. Cosmetic improvements are important but not imperative. It’s okay to spread them out over time.
4. Look for sales. Stores often run sales throughout the year that can shave costs off of your purchases.
5. Plan a day to work. Gather all the supplies then mark a day on your calendar to get the project done.
Good luck on your 2019 home renovation projects! I would love to hear about what you’re working on.
